Once you decide that you're ready to train for a half marathon, pick a race and sign up for it as soon as possible. Most races offer early bird discounts, and if you sign up as soon as possible, you won't have to worry about getting shut out if the race fills up.

But there are other benefits, too. Once you fork over the cash for an entry fee--not cheap these days--you shift from running to training. You progress out of casual exercise. You have a mission to accomplish and a road map to help you do it. Knowing that you've registered for the race can get you out of bed on those mornings when it might be tempting to hit the snooze button. But which race to choose? It pays to be picky.

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Plan Ahead

Many half marathon plans last for 10 weeks. But if you're just starting out, it's best to pick a race that is at least 6 months away. That way, you'll have extra time to build up your base of fitness, develop a consistent exercise routine, and allow for any unexpected hitches, injuries, or false starts. Also, when you compare your work and family calendars, make sure that the most intense parts of training and the race itself don't conflict with other major life events.

It pays to know the cancellation policy before signing up. While most events aren't able to offer refunds, the Rocky Mountain Marathon Half Marathon offers full refunds until 8 weeks before the race and a 50% refund for cancellations up to the day before.

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Scot Allen

Pick a Location

Races can be a passport to adventure and an excuse to see a new place that you haven't been to before. On one hand, travel can add a whole new layer of stress to your race experience. If you're a first-timer, you might want to consider going local. On race weekend, being able to eat what you trained with on long runs, race on a course you've run on millions of times, and go through the same pre-run rituals you did during training will help you stay calm as you step to the line. Not having to worry about getting to the airport or whether you packed your shoes or your favorite brand of energy gel will be a big load off your shoulders.

On the other hand, seeing 13.1 miles of a new place-- and seeing it in a way that you can't from a tour bus or a car--might be a welcome distraction from the pressures of the race itself. If you turn race weekend into a getaway with family and friends, it can feel like a vacation with a big catered run at the end!

If you're looking to get away but can't commit to a fall race, The Hapalua (pictured) is run in mid-April. This little sister to the Honolulu Marathon starts and ends at Waikiki Beach.

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Consider the Conditions

Make sure that you'll be able to prepare for the race in conditions that are similar to what you'll be racing in. A spring race might sound nice, but it means you're going to be training in the snowy, icy, dark depths of winter. If you're training for an early fall half marathon, you'll be training in the heat of summer, which means 90-degree long runs.

A late fall race is ideal. You'll start training at the end of July and in August, when the days are long and you can run early, while it's light. And as your runs get longer, the weather will get cooler and much more hospitable to those long runs. On race day, you're likely to get perfect running conditions. Most races post an "average temperature" for race day on their websites. If they don't, you can look it up on a site like weatherunderground.com.

Running atop the bluffs of Escambia Bay at an average temperature of 60 degrees, it's no wonder how the Pensacola Half Marathon (pictured) fills its 1,500 spots every year. Start training this month for the 2013 race on November 10.

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Find the Right Size

There's a big difference between racing shoulder to shoulder with 10,000 other people while thousands of spectators on the sidelines cheer you on and doing a smaller event where you might run for miles without seeing another competitor or spectator. Some people find that they thrive on the energy of the screaming spectators on the sidelines and the constant company of other runners. Others find the crowds stressful; they don't like jostling with others at the water stops, and they prefer the simplicity of a smaller race.

If you're looking for strength in numbers, don't count out the 500 Mini-Marathon (pictured). Anything but mini, the event has filled its 35,000 spots for 12 consecutive years.

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Action Sports Images of Kansas City

Go With a Known Quantity

There's nothing wrong with running a race in its inaugural year, but if this is your first time racing, you might want to go with an established event. Look for experienced race directors, sponsors, and running clubs; ask people at your local running store for recommendations. A poorly marked course or too few water stops can ruin your whole day. You want the confidence of knowing that the aid stations are going to be where you're expecting them: at least every 2 to 3 miles. If you have questions, e-mail the race director.

Check out the course map and elevation chart on the race website. Do you want a course that's fast and flat, even if that means running through some not-so-great parts of town? Or would you rather run through pretty scenery, even if that means doing some climbing?

Your best option is a course that offers some variation. A few rolling hills will work different muscle groups and keep you from getting bored.

The most important factor is that you're able to practice running on terrain that mimics the elevation change that you'll face during the race. If you're training for a half in Colorado and you live in Kansas, you're going to have to make some time to train in areas where you can practice that hill work.

If you're going to be in the New England area this October, the Smuttynose Rockfest (pictured) is the self-proclaimed "fastest and easiest course in New England" with the elevation guide to prove it: the highest elevation for the half marathon is a mere 60 feet.

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Course Cutoffs

Many races have strict time limits, but others have extended times and advertise that they are walker-friendly. If you're a walker or worry that you won't be able to finish before the course closes, it's a good idea to pick a race with a more liberal time limit. You will have enough to think about on race day without adding the stress of worrying whether you'll have to be pulled off the course or whether there will be any water or medals left at the finish line.

In most cases, the course time limit refers to the amount of time that the aid stations will stay up and operating and the amount of time that the roads will be closed to vehicle traffic.

Surprise! Race director Hal Gensler confirms that the walker-friendly Desert Classic Half Marathon in Surprise, Arizona has no time limit for finishers. Take your time on this straightforward out-and-back course along a highway with scenic views of the desert and an early-start option.

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Music-Friendly

Some races prohibit the use of headphones, while other races brand themselves as iPod friendly. If you're used to training with music and you can't race without it, make sure that the race you choose allows it.

Even if it does, it's a good idea to run with just one earbud in or to keep the volume low enough that you can hear other runners approaching or directions from course officials. You don't want to cause a collision at a water stop or miss hearing another runner call out a warning about a pothole or a curb.

If music gets you moving, run Nashville's Country Music Half Marathon benefiting St. Jude's Children Hospital. The 2012 event featured over 50 live bands on 28 stages and a post-race concert in downtown Nashville.

Just 12 miles from our headquarters, the historic course tours the area surrounding Bethlehem Steel. We have a jam-packed weekend planned: This year's race features seminars, a shoe lab, live music, a prerace dinner with the editors, and events for kids and dogs. In addition to the half, we have a 5K, 10K, and trail race.

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